CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — After being a dominant force on the Atlantic invitational scene, D Gs Camme is more than deserving of the title of aged pacing horse of the decade.
In a poll of the local harness racing industry officials, the son of Blissfull Hall was the top vote earner for the title.
Owned by Tom Clark, Ron Matheson and Quentin and Hal Bevan of Charlottetown, the gelding retired with 32 wins, $163,649 in earnings and a mark of 1:51 taken at Mohawk Raceway in Ontario. Gilles Barrieau was the regular pilot of the pacer for trainer Jackie Matheson, as the duo teamed up to win the 2014 and 2015 Governor’s Plate finals at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The Mathesons bought the horse for $8,500 at the Forest City yearling sale in London, Ont., and qualified him at two then won a pair of starts at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP). He then went to the Ontario stable of Robert Shepherd where he took his 1:51 mark as a three-year-old in the summer of 2013.
D Gs Camme returned to the East Coast in 2014 and delivered a seven-length romp in the $25,000 Governor’s Plate final for Barrieau and Matheson then swept the Premier’s Pace series during Old Home Week. He then was a bang-up second in the $25,000 Founders Cup event, held for the 150th meeting of the Fathers of Confederation, to Wazzup Wazzup before winning the Johnny Conroy Invitational at the Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia and the Breeders Crown Invitational at the CDP.
2015 was more of the same for D Gs Camme with a neck decision in the Governor’s Plate final and then an appearance in the $60,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final, won by Take It Back Terry. He was second in the 2016 Governor’s Plate to Ys Lotus and again made the Gold Cup and Saucer final that year, which Ys Lotus won.
The final invitational score of his career came that season with a 10-length stomping in the Conroy Invitational at the Truro Raceway.
What they said
Here’s what harness racing officials had to say about D Gs Camme.
“Probably the toughest class to compete in week in and week out in the Maritimes is the invitational class. D Gs Camme was another horse with a big engine and big heart.”
Breeder William Andrew
“I chased him for a few years but the day he set the track record in North Sydney was jaw dropping. It was a few races after I set the three-year-old (record) with Proven Desire. I won’t forget that day.”
Trainer-driver Marc Campbell
“Broke and trained by one of P.E.I.’s best. He could make a bad drive look good and has.”
Driver Brodie MacPhee
“His quick speed was amazing. He could step out of a hole or off the gate like a car.”
Driver Corey MacPherson“Visited every winner’s circle in the Maritimes at the invitational ranks. He was an exceptional performer.”
Lee Drake, Red Shores’ manager of marketing and brands
Top Five
A look at horse who received the most votes for aged pacer of the decade.
1. D Gs Camme
2. 2. All Turain
3. Rose Run Quest
4. Outlawpositivcharg
5. Proven Lover
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
